Threadless drill pipe



March 10, 1942. A, BoYN'roN 2,275,418'

THREADLSS DRILL PIP l Y Filed July 17, 1959 2 sheets-sheet 2 Fig. 11.

Patented Mar. 10, 1942 t UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Alexander Boynton,

San Antonio, Tex.

Application July 17, 1939, Serial No. 284,893

9 Claims.

My invention relates to drill pipe, and particularly means for connecting the together.

The principal object is to provide means enabling the drill pipe to be rotated either right or left without danger of the joints becomingl disconnected. v

Another object is to provide a connection means enabling joints of drill pipe to be more quickly connected and disconnected than can be accomplished by employing threads.

Another object is to provide pipe connection means of relatively small diameter and great strength.

These objects are attained by means of interlocking end segments, semi-dovetailed together, and secured against disengagement by the lock nut action of a threaded sleeve which is, in turn, secured by a snap ring or keys, clearlyappear from the following specification and the mechanism illustrated panying drawings, in which- Fig. 1 is a. longitudinal section through the preferred embodiment of the invention.

Fig. 2 isa cross section on the line 22, Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side View of the lower portion of the upper coupling member in Fig. 1. 1Figl. 4 is an isometric view of the snap ring in Fig. 5 is a. longitudinal section through the lock ring in Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is partially an outside view and partially a longitudinal section through the segment sleeve in Fig. 1. FiFigl. 'l is an outside view of the base sleeve in Fig. 8 is a Iragmental outside view and longitudinal section through the lower coupling member in Fig. 1.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section through a modifled form of the invention.

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section through the locking means assembly in Fig. 11.

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal section through another modied form of the invention.

Fig. 12 is a cross section on the line I2-I2,

Similar characters of reference-are employed tvo designate similar parts throughout the several The upper coupling member I may be fabricated integrally with the lower end ofthe drill pipe A, or it may be made as a separate part and threadedly joined to the drill pipe A and further secured t0 it by the weld A', as in Fig. 1. Likejoints thereof in the accomby any other wise, the lower coupling member 5 may be formed out of the expanded upset upper end of the lower joint of drill -pipe Aa, or it may be separately formed and threadedly joined to the drill pipe Aa and further secured to it by the weld Aa'.

The Segment sleeve 4 and the lock ring 3 each have threaded connection over the upper coupling. member |,-the snap ring 2 to engage around this. member between the shoulder IdY and the upper end oi the lock ring 3.

The base sleeve 1 has its enlarged upper end engaged upon the internal annular shoulder 5c. This sleeve has the upstanding inclined segments 'Ia (see Fig. '7) between which segments the dependingincllned segments Ia of the member I are adapted to closely engage.

The member 5 has, the upstanding inclined segments 5a, adapted to closely engage with the depending inclined segments It will be noted that the separate pairs of mating segments inc 'ne in opposite directions.

The U cups 6 and 6a, which may be of leather or fabric, are positioned within the annular recesses 5d and 5d', (see Fig. 8), formed within the inner side of the member 5 proximate its upper end which is slidable over the lower portion of the member I with which portion of said member I the U cups are closely engaged. One cup looks upward and the other cup looks down- -ward in order that each may be expanded by fluid seeking the cup faces and thus prevent any leakage of uid into the drill pipe 5 and I. Manlfestly, these cups may be replaced suitable form of packing.

The snap'ring 2 has two bevels of equal pitch. The inner bevel 2b is comparatively short and adapted to be engaged by a special tool for re-v moving it from the assembly. The outer bevel 2a is several times longer than the inner one; thus providing' that mud or any other force tending to spread the ring by acting upon the bevel 2b will bemore than counterbalanced by the force acting upon the other longer bevel 2a,

v tending to close the ring.

The throw or incline of the segments la and 5av and or the segments Ia and 1a will be assumed to be equal to one-tenth of one complete turn of the member 4. These distances are shown between the vertical dotted lines and the focus vpoint of ,the nearby acute angl said throw or incline being designated at Ia', 'I a', la', and 5a', Fig. 1.

To take the device apart, (it being assumed that the members, 5 and 1 are held stationary),

4a of the member 4.

or out of it between the members deposit it about the Id surfaces of the segments la and a.

In order to re-assemble the connection, replace the member facilitating the assembling operation.

The segments longer, such as one-sixteenth inch, than the segposition it assumed when the connection was taken apart.

'I'he snap ring 2 is precautionary to prevent the lock ring 3 from backing oii ii its grip upon the member 4 should be loosened by vibration oi' the drill pipe in operation. Manifestly, this snap ring should have a close t between the ring 3 and the shoulder Id, because, as stated, only a slight turn of the member 4 will dis-engage the connection.

It is apparent that the lock ring may be dispensed with and the snap ring alone employed to secure the engagement as shown in Fig. 9.

It is also 'apparent that segments, because the protrusion of the inclined ing overhanging side of its mating segment, as

appears at Ia', 1a', 4a', and 5a.

While the connection is formed, as in Fig. 1, the base sleeve I will not become unscrewed from Ia and 1a. may be slightly will be resisted by the engaged' the member 5 by any ro- 'lhe modified form of Fig. 9 illustrates the upper and lower members The principal difference between this modication and the preceding embodiment resides in the omission of the snap ring, moving the U cups from within the male member into the female member, in reversing the position of the outer segment sleeve. and in the construction oi the inside base segment sleeve.

The upper drill pipe member 8 has the inclined depending segments 8a adapted to engage between the inclined upstanding segments IIa of thesleeve II which has threaded connection over the member 9.

The lower drill pipe member 9 has the inclined upstanding segments ea adapted to engage with the depending inclined segments IIJa oi' the bushing I0, the latter member having threaded engagement within the member 8 secured by the welds Ib.

The incline or throw of ythe segments is indicated by the distance between the dotted lines 8a', IIa', 9a and IIJa, and the acute angle Point at the corner of the segments.

The separate pairs of segments incline in opposite directions, as appears.

'Ihe U cups 6 and 6a, each i'ltted within a recess interior of the member II, have a close sliding ilt over the bushing I0 which latter memwhich pairs, of course,

vmember 9 proximately below the ber is slidable within the sleeve II. 'I'hese cups and the snap ring 2 serve the same purposes as heretofore explained for similar parts in connection with Fig.' l.

The segment sleeve II has threaded connecnection upon the member 9 which has the external annular shoulder 9b adapted to coniine the snap ring 2 between it and the end of the sleeve II.

To take the connection apart, remove the snap ring 2 and, for convenience, deposit it about the shoulder 9b, or about the lower extremity of the member II. 'Ihen raise the member 8, which will rotate slightly while the inclined the opposite direction from that of the member 8 to dis-engage the inclined segments 9a and Illa, this rotation moving the sleeve I I in the direction of the shoulder 9b.

- It is assumed that the the segments incline is each, therefore, will rotate approximately one-twentieth of a turn during the dis-connecting movements.

In re-assembling this construction, it is evident that, if the segments 8a and IIa should impnge either member 8 Vor II will cause these segments sleeve II may be to it by the member'I, be

- different sets ments being indicated by rotated slightly if necessary to completely enmesh all the mating segments; whereupon the snap ring 2 may be moved to snapinto the position shown in Fig. 9.

Preferably, one set of mating segments y,should be slightly longer than the other set for convenience in assembling.

It is apparent that themating segments must be of the same length and pitch, but that the or pairs vof segments may be of different lengths and pitches, either or both.

It is also apparent that the enmeshed segments will prevent independent rotation of the members 8 and 9 while assembled as in Fig. 9. Neither can the members 8 and 9 be pulled apart then, because of the overhanging and underthrown relation between the mating segments, unless the members 8 and 9 can rotate each other. The sleeve II is rotatable at any time to dis-engage the segments 8a and IIa, but such rotation is prevented by the snap ring 2, closely tted between the member II and the shoulder 9b.

In Fig. 11, the upper member IIA may be threadedly joined to the drill pipe C and further secured by the weld C'; while the lower coupling member I2 may be threadedly joined to the drill pipe Ca and further secured by the weld Ca'.

' The parts 6, 6a. struction and purpose as in Fig. 1.

The upstanding inclined segments 1a of the member 1 are adapted to become enmeshed with the depending inclined segments IIAa of the member IIA, the throw or overlap of these se'gdotted lines at 1af and IIAa, each of these distances being measured from the dotted line to the cent acute angle.

The member IIA, having a sliding clearance within the central bore through the member I2, has external threads I Ib adapted to engage with the threads 15a within the member I5, (see Fig. 10). The keys I3 are slidable within the oppositely positioned slots |20, of the member I2 and IIc of the member IIA, over which member the internal flange Illa of the member I4 has slightv clearance.

The locking means assembly in Fig. 10 has the key carrier Id with the internal flange I4a, having its upper surface inclined outwardly so as to secure the heads ISa'of the keys I3 between this ange and the member I5 which has threaded engagement within the member i4. There is slight clearance between the key heads I3a and the member I5, enabling the members It and I5 to be rotated independently of the keys, ythis clearance being so slight as to prevent the key heads l3nt from becoming dis-engaged from the remainder of the assembly at any time while the member I5 is threadedly engaged with the member I4, as in Fig. 10.

The assembly in Fig. cannot be placed as an assembled unit upon the member\ IIA, because the slots IIc do not extend to the lower end of the member IIA, but must be assembled upon it as follows: (l) Engage the member I5 with the threads IIb and run this member up to the top of the threads. (2) Place the member I4 about,the member I IA, and far enough below the member I5 to admit the keys I3. (3) Insert the keys into the slots I2a and IIc from above. (4) Screw the member I5 into the member I4. s

To take apart the members IIA and I2, turn the assembled members I4 and I5 upward until the keys I3 are raised above the member I2. In

the only member and 1, are the same in conpoint of the adjaindependently of of itsl segments;

-engaged by relative this operation, the keys will travel vertically in their slots, while the key heads I3a will ride around upon the shoulder I4a. The member IIA may then be lifted away from the member I2. In this operation, the member IIA will rotate slightly as indicated at 1a and Ila' to free the enmeshed segments 1a and IIAa.

i In re-forming the assembly as in-Fig. l1, insert the member IIA within the member I2, engaging the segments 1a of the member 1 and IIAa of the member IIA, and screw the key as- .s'emblyV downward until upon the member I2. I

It is apparent as shown in Figs. 1 and 9, that the mechanism is based upon two pairs of semi-dovetailed members,yone pair having an independently rotatable member adapted to release the engagement thereby releasing the engagement between the other pair of engaged members.

In the modification shown in Fig. 1'1, one pair of overhanging engaged segments has its engagement secured by removable keys to accomplish the same result as was attained in the other embodiments.

'It is understood that the details of construction and arrangement of parts are subject to many obvious variations and minor changes without departing from the scope and purpose of my invention as stated in the objects and as defined by the appended claims.

I claim: 4

1. A pipe connection of the character described comprising intertting male and female ends on the connected ends of pipe sections, the end of the male end and the interior of the female end having a plurality of complementary, axially extending, inclined segments adapted to be interaxial and rotational movement of the pipe sections, and means threadedly mounted on the male end and threadably moved into engagement with the end of the female end for locking the .pipe ends against relative movement after the complementary segments are moved into interengagement.

2. A pipe connection comprising interfitting male and female ends on the connected ends of pipe sections, the end of the male end andthe interior ofthe female end having a plurality of complementary, interengaging, axially extending, inclined segments, registering keyways in the intertting pipe ends, keys within said keyways, and means threadedly engaging one of said ends and attached to said keys to move thel keys to and from locking position within the keyways,

3. A pipe connection of the character described comprising pipe ends having a plurality of complementary, outwardly projecting inclined segments adapted to be interengaged by relative axial and angular movement of the pipe ends, an offset portion on one of said pipe ends having outwardly projecting segments oppositelyinclined to the first mentioned segments, a segment sleeve mounted upon the otherof said pipe ends and having segments complementary to those on said offset portion, and means for locking said segment sleeve in position 'after the pairs of segments are in engagement.

4. A pipe connection comprising pipe ends having a vplurality of complementary, outwardly projecting, inclined segments engageable by relative axial and angular movement of the pipe ends, an offset portion on one of said pipe ends surrounding the segmented end of the other pipe 'end and provided with outwardly projecting segits member I4 engages ,ments differently inclined ,tionecl segments, a shoulder than the rst menon said other pipe end in spaced opposed relation to saidl o'set portion, a. threaded area on said other end intermediate such shoulder and the offset portion, a

mentsleeve in position after the pairs of complementary segments are in engagement.

the character described comprising a female member on one pipe section including inner and outer spaced series o1' axially extending, inclined segments, a male of segments `are in engagement.

6. A pipe Iconnection of the character described comprising pipe ends having a plurality of outwardly projecting, complementary inclined segments adapted to be interengaged by, relative 7.' A pipe connection of the character describen comprising pipe ends having outwardly projectplurality of axially extending, inclined segabout the male pipe'end.

ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

